Telugu Desam Party supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu, who has emerged as ‘kingmaker’ after the Lok Sabha polls in the formation of NDA at the center, while extending `unconditional’ support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and highlighting need of his leadership to the country in the present circumstances, also adopting a very cautious approach.
It may be recalled that he had earlier walked out of the NDA in 2018, accusing the Modi-led government of not fulfilling its `commitments’ to the newly bifurcated state and ignoring guarantees given in the AP Reorganization Act, has indirectly suggested the new government not to give such bitter experiences to the states in future.
Stressing the need to address `regional aspirations’ during the NDA’s meeting at Delhi on Friday and tried to send a clear message to PM Modi. He said “balancing regional aspirations and national interests must run parallel while ensuring holistic development for all strata of society.”
The TDP won 16 Lok Sabha seats and the party-led alliance won 21 of 25 seats in the state. The TDP-led alliance also won in the state assembly elections. Naidu’s comments come amidst cabinet formation talks where TDP is rumoured to have demanded key cabinet berths.
More particularly, he had earlier deserted from the NDA as the Center failed its commitment on `special category status’ for Andhra Pradesh and support to develop a plan to develop Amaravati as the state’s capital.
Since then TDP and BJP relations turned hostile and allegedly BJP backed YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s regime in view of his unconditional support in Rajya Sabha. It may be recalled some time back finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had described Jaganmohan Reddy as `adopted son of Prime Minister Modi’.
TDP is accusing that because of Modi government’s backing, Jagan is able to avoid trial in CBI and ED cases against him for more than a decade. Only just at the time of announcing election schedule, sensing Jagan’s YCP is facing severe anti-incumbency TDP top leadership reached into alliance with BJP.
